Sport to Private PTS Specifics

In an effort to understand the differences in sport pilot training and private pilot training standards, the following ASEL Sport to Private additional/different PTS requirements comparison reference is provided.

I. PREFLIGHT PREPERATION

A. Certificates and documents1(a) Sport pilot verses private pilot privileges and limitations.
1(b) Sport pilot “medical eligibility” rathar than private pilot medical certificate class and duration
1(c) same
2 sameB. Airworthiness Requirements1(a) required instruments and equipment for day VFR rather than sport pilot privileges
1(b) adds MEL
1(c) private adds (c) obtaining special flight permit (no sport pilot (c))
2(a) Private uses airworthiness directives which only apply to the airplane standard category aircraft. Must assume this means “safety directives for SLSA and ELSA”.
2(b) Private adds “compliance records”C. Weather
Sport Pilot is generic for weather services but private lists all the Surface analysis chart, winds aloft, significant weather prognostic charts, convective outlook, METAR, TAF, FA plus AWOS, ASOS, and ATIS
Sport adds 3 and 4 for avoiding and exiting IMCD. Cross country flight planningsame but private adds “explaining a pre-planned VFR cross- country flight, as previously assigned by the examiner. On the day of the practical test, the final flight plan shall be to the first fuel stop, based on maximum allowable passengers, baggage, and/or cargo loads using real-time weather.”
Otherwise the sameE. National AirspacePrivate specifically adds Basic VFR weather minimums, operating rules, pilot certification, and aircraft equipment for each airspace B, C, D.F. Operations of systemsPrivate adds “10. Environmental. 11. Deicing and anti-icing.”G. AeromedicalPrivate added scuba because above 10,000 but did not include hypothermia maybe because of heating systems in most Standard categoryJ. Performance and LimitationsTasks listed are different but mean about the same thingK. Principles of FlightPrivate pilot does not have “K. Principles of Flight” probably because this is covered in the private knowledge test and not in the sport pilot written.

III. AIRPORT OPERATIONS

A. Radio communications
1. Sport is without operating control towers and private adds “control towers and ATC light signals”
2. same
3. same
4. private adds “complies with instructions” from towersB. Traffic Patterns
1. Private adds “with control towers”
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6.sameC. Airport signs/markings lighting
1. same
2. same

IV. TAKEOFFS, LANDINGS, and GO AROUNDS

A. Normal and croswing Takeoff and Climb – About the same but in general the private specifies liftoff and accelerates to Vy, where sport lifts off and climbs at the same airspeed. Private adds noise abatement and checklists to procedure.B. Normal and Crosswing Approach and Landing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. private pilot adds “Makes smooth timely ……”
6. sport same
7. sport same
8. sport same
9. sport same
Private adds 11 completes checklistC. Soft fied Takeoff and Climb1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
8. same
9. same
private adds 10 “completes checklistD. Soft Field Approach and Landing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
8. same
private adds 9 completes checklistE. Short Field Confined takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb
1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5 same
6. same
7. same
8. same
9. same
10. same
11. same
12. same
Private adds 13. completes checklistF. Short-Field Approach and Landing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
8. same
9. same
10. same
11. same
Private adds 12 checklistK. Forward Slip to Landing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
Private adds 8. checklistL. Go-Around Rejected Landing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
Private adds 5. retracts landing gear and 9. checklist

V. PERFORMANCE MANEUVERS

(same)A. Steep Turns1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same

VI. GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS

A. Rectangular Course1. same
2. same but sport adds “selects suitable emergency landing area”
3. same except Private has a ceiling of 1000 feet AGL and sport is minimum of 600 feet AGL
4. same
5. same
6. sameB. S-Turns1. same
2. same but sport adds “selects suitable emergency landing area”
3. same except Private has a ceiling of 1000 feet AGL and sport is minimum of 600 feet AGL
4. same
5. same
6. sameC. Turns Around A Point1. same
2. same but sport adds “selects sutable emergency landing area”
3. same except Private has a ceiling of 1000 feet AGL and sport is minimum of 600 feet AGL
4. same
5. same
6. sport adds exit heading (no private 6.)
7. Private same

VII. NAVIGATION

A. Pilotage and Dead Reckoning1. same
2. same
3. same
all the rest the same except sport adds 5. enough fuel and private adds 4. Navigates by means of pre-computed headings, groundspeed, and elapsed time., 5. Corrects for and records the differences between preflight groundspeed and heading calculations and those determined en-route., 7. Arrives at the en-route checkpoints within five (5) minutes of the initial or revised ETA and provides a destination estimate.B. Diversion (Sport) C. Private
1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
Private adds complete Task of “B. Navigation Systems and Radar Services”C. Lost Procedures
1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same

VIII. SLOW FLIGHT/STALLS

A. Maneuvering Slow Flight1. same
2. same but sport minimum AGL 1000 private 1500
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. sameB. Power-Off Stalls1. same
2. same but sport minimum AGL 1000 private 1500
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
8. sameC. Power-On Stalls1. same
2. same but sport minimum AGL 1000 private 1500
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same
8. same

BASIC INSTRUMENT MANEUVERS Private Pilot adds complete section
This is a big section which includes a number of flight tasks, plus radio and navigation communications

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS (IX Sport X Private)A. Emergency Approach and Landing
1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. Private adds the use of checklistB. Systems and equipment malfunctions
1. same
2. same but Private specifically drops ballistic parachute system (which should be added for any private pilot flying LSA)
3. sameC. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SURVIVAL GEARSport pilot specifies specific areas such as desert, water, mountain, end extreme temperature changes

NIGHT OPERATION Private Pilot adds complete section

POSTFLIGHT PROCEDURESA. After Landing, Parking and Securing1. same
2. same
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. same
7. same